Federal Government Files New Charges Against Ozekhome Over Alleged UK Property Fraud

The charges, brought before the FCT High Court in Abuja, also implicate Ponfa Useni — also known as Tali Shani — as a co-defendant. The Federal Ministry of Justice alleges that both defendants forged a Nigerian passport and other supporting documents to advance a fraudulent claim over a property at 79 Randall Avenue, London.

The late Jeremiah Useni, a former FCT minister, features prominently in several counts as an alleged co-conspirator. Prosecutors claim that in 2020, the defendants conspired in Abuja to procure a false Nigerian passport bearing the name “Tali Shani” — described as a fictitious identity — purportedly issued by the Nigerian Immigration Service, in order to facilitate the property claim.

Ozekhome’s role, according to prosecutors, involved jointly executing that same Power of Attorney on May 30, 2020, thereby allegedly aiding the impersonation. The government also claims the senior advocate had control over the London property — suspected to have been unlawfully acquired — along with £18,000 believed to represent rent proceeds from it.